So friends, here we are toward the end of Holy Week. Some years ago I began taking our church through 'ancient-future' explorations, though the term isn't original to me. It's simply been a way for a hyper-modern 'low' church like ours to apply humble teachability to the wisdom of Christians from centuries before us.
The most helpful ancient Christian practice we've learned, to me, has been the Easter Fast, and I invite you to join me in it beginning this evening (after you enjoy a full dinner!). Before practicing Lent and the Easter Fast, I used to arrive at Easter worship as though it were any other Sunday, just a little amped up. Which isn't entirely bad - every Sunday is a celebration of Resurrection Day. Every day, for those who follow Jesus, is an opportunity to live out of the resurrection power and values of our Lord. BUT it is good and right that annually we specifically remember and celebrate this central fact of human history - the bodily resurrection of the God-Man Jesus Christ from the dead, in victory over death, suffering, sin, shame, and human division.
One member of the LFC tribe wrote me this encouragement just yesterday: "We are so incredibly thankful for the ways that LFC has mentored and taught us how to draw near to the Lord through Lent and fasting corporately over Easter weekend. Easter has more meaning for us spiritually than any other time of the year because its been such a powerful experience for us the past 3 years."
The Easter Fast prepares my spirit with readiness to worship along with the Holy Spirit in powerful ways each Easter. It uses a spiritual practice that is best exemplified by Jesus, and the Bible teaches that fasting uniquely reorders the desires of our flesh and hones the attuned-ness of our spirit to God's Spirit.
Attached is an excellent guide for this year's Easter Fast (again, to begin after dinner tonight, Maundy Thursday, and continue to Saturday morning or longer, as you choose). It has instructions for how to fast, specific prayers during the beginning, end and over each scheduled meal time during the fast. And a way for you to give the money you would have spent otherwise to feed the hungry if you so choose, in the name of Jesus. It has been adapted by us with permission, as noted.
Download 2015Easter FastingGuide
I will post some helpful thoughts on fasting from my readings on Friday and Saturday mornings this week.
The only suggestion I will add to the attached guide is this - when I fast, whenever a hunger pang pangs me, I turn it toward God in a prayer of these words of Jesus during two of his fasts:
"Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”. Matthew 4:4
"My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." John 4:34
